President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mian Abrar Ahmed has urged the young generation of the country to focus their energies on self-employment and entrepreneurship rather seeking jobs. Speaking at opening ceremony of National convention 2011 of Junior Chamber International Pakistan (JCIP), he said that self-employment and entrepreneurship is the key to better and progressive Pakistan.
He said that it is the need of the day for joint enterprise and collective efforts of public and private sectors and all segments of the society specially the youth for strengthening the economy and motivate the residents and overseas Pakistanis to act as resilience at the time of economic adversity.
To build Pakistan, Mian Abrar Ahmed said, we have to realise productive economic growth, to resolve the social issues emerging from economic development and to lay a solid social foundation for trade promotion, investment facilitation and long-term economic development.
Our goal must be greater productivity and prosperity and a better environment. To this end, we must develop the economy, transform the economic development pattern, raise the efficiency of economic development, and create more social wealth so that our people can lead a better life.
He pointed out that the current prevailing situation in our beloved country is a matter of concern for all of us, political unrest, energy crises, declining foreign exchange reserves, out flow of investments, high interest rates and above all, deteriorating law-and-order situation have posed a real threat to economic and social stability in Pakistan. Likewise, foreign media and some Pakistani electronic media broadcast biased reporting which further fades the Pakistani image in the global world. He said Pakistan is fighting a "War against terrorism" in this region on behalf of the world where Pakistan is acting as a frontline state.
The peace and harmony of the world is linked with the success of this war against terror which our nation is combating alone, and Pakistan is facing colossal loss of billions of US dollars every year. A great amount of resources are exhausted and precious lives are lost in this war. He said Pakistan is aid dependent since its inception and added that the representatives of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) do not believe in aid, we at all forums have raised voice to enhance trade for socio-economic development of Pakistan.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President expressed his belief that USA and other countries world-wide can reciprocate to the contributions of Pakistan by helping Pakistan to address the economic challenges through shifting its support from conventional aid to market access, investment, technology transfer, education and training, scientific research and infrastructural development.